[Protest of USDA Rejection of Bid for Emergency Watershed Protection Project]

A firm protested the Soil Conservation Service's (SCS) rejection of its bid for performance of an emergency watershed protection project, contending that SCS: (1) should have considered its late bid; and (2) issued a defective solicitation. GAO held that: (1) SCS properly rejected the protester's late bid; and (2) the protester should have clarified the bid opening time prior to bid opening. Accordingly, the protest was denied.